Members Present:

Observers:

Secretariat:

Regrets:

Guests:

The chair welcomed Hilda Price from the Association of Yukon Communities. Council is waiting for the official appointment of Ms. Price and Ms. Shorty.

When the two outstanding appointments are confirmed, the Council will be operating at a full compliment with regards to membership.

Louise Bouvier moved and Ralph Nordling seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried.

Ralph Nordling moved and Charlotte Hrenchuck seconded the motion to approve the November 15-16, 2002 minutes. The motion carried.

1. Accountability Plan Letters
   YCEE provided comments and recommendations to the Ministers of Energy, Mines & Resources; Business, Tourism & Culture and Environment on the previous governments accountability plans. Council encouraged the new government to produce annual plans with clear priorities and measurable outcomes. Response correspondence was reviewed. Ministers indicated that they are working on the prioritization of departmental objectives. Government will be returning to the conventional, familiar budget format for 2003/04.
2. Letter to Premier & Ministers of Environment and Energy, Mines & Resources
   A letter outlining YCEE's initiatives was sent to Premier Fentie, Minister Lang and Minister Kenyon. Council encouraged the new government to link policy to outcome indicators.
3. Discussion items for Ministers
   Letters were sent to the Ministers of Energy, Mines & Resources, Business, Tourism & Culture and Environment outlining discussion items for meetings. Council will focus on providing the Ministers with updates on the following legislated responsibilities:
   • State of the Environment Report
   • Yukon Conservation Strategy
   • Yukon Economic Strategy
   An update on the work to date with the Sustainable Progress Indicators will also be discussed. Council will encourage the new government to complete and implement the SPI initiative.
   ACTION: Ministers will receive copies of the draft Sustainable Progress Indicators Report.
4. Dissemination of YCEE Information to Council
   Council information has been posted on the YCEE's website and is password protected. Ralph, Hilda and Charlotte experienced difficulty in downloading information. The secretariat will continue to work on providing workable formatting with regards to the dissemination of YCEE information to council. Information will continue to be posted/distributed to council members 3 weeks in advance of the meetings.
   ACTION: Secretariat will continue to work on the dissemination of YCEE information to council.

Verena Hardtke from the Department of Environment presented council with an update on the development of the 2002 SOE Report. Topics have been chosen and include; Air & Climate Change, Water, Land, Fish, Wildlife, Ecosystems (Forests and Wetlands). Land will briefly include mention of industries regarding their impact on the environment. The format is based on the B.C. SOE Report. The 2002 SOE Report will be published and released to the public in the fall of 2003. In the future, the report will consist of 15 indicators total.

A pilot project is being proposed for the traditional knowledge component of the SOE Report. The project will consist of a community based telephone survey. Eighty questions will be posed to community members. The focus will be on non-scientific measurements surrounding the environment. The results will then determine what will be reported on in the next SOE Report. A "community view" will be contained on each topic. This will meet the traditional/local knowledge requirement for the SOE report. The community view project will assist in attaining one of the purposes of SOE that is to provide early detection of environmental problems.

YCEE will review the 2002 SOE Report in the winter of 2003/04 when the report becomes public. Recommendations and feedback will be provided to government as part of council's legislated responsibilities.

The Yukon Forest Stewardship Council Steering Committee invited YCEE to review the Boreal Forest Certification Standards. Members are encouraged to review the standards.

It was noted that it might be difficult for smaller companies in the Yukon, without administrative support, to comply with the certification standards.

Council reviewed the Focus on the Future - "Yukon Business Case Studies Three Year Follow-up Report". It was noted that the majority of initial businesses interviewed, were still in operation. Council reviewed and discussed the executive summary and themes of the report.

The summary themes included:

• Growth in the export of products and need for marketing support.
• The role of competition, need for targeted tourism marketing.
• Importance of personal service.
• Staffing difficulties for seasonal businesses.
• Value of networking.
• Different definitions of "success".
• Need to "buy local" policies and promotion.
• Value of monitoring and adapting to market changes.
• Direct employment is not the only spin off.
• Regulatory wrangling, access to resources.
• Need for dedicated staff in government.

The summary themes will be discussed with the Minister of Business, Tourism and Culture. YCEE will encourage government to use the report as a tool to focus policies.

The report will be distributed to all MLA's, first nations, chambers of commerce and businesses service centers. The report is seen as tool to assist small businesses.

ACTION: Secretariat will distribute the follow up report to all MLA's, first nations, chambers of commerce and businesses service centers.

ACTION: Report will be posted on the YCEE website under publications section.

Council discussed YCEE's past initiatives as well as possible new directions that may be taken in support of the new government's mandate and sustainable development initiatives. Specific items that were discussed included:

• YCEE's legislated responsibilities.
• 2002 State of the Environment Report.
• Historical challenges the YCEE has faced with respect to providing constructive feedback to successive governments regarding the Yukon Economic Strategy.
• YCEE's involvement with the development of Sustainable Progress Indicators.

Other items discussed were the creation of the new Department of Economic Development, the Department of Energy, Mines & Resources focus on regulatory development, the Kaska MOU on Forest Stewardship, the Department of Fisheries & Oceans new Placer Mining Regulations and the dismantling of the Yukon Placer Authorization.

Council discussed YCEE's past initiatives as well as possible new directions that may be taken in support of the new government's mandate and sustainable development initiatives. Specific items that were discussed included:

• YCEE's legislated responsibilities.
• 2002 State of the Environment Report.
• Historical challenges the YCEE has faced with respect to providing constructive feedback to successive governments regarding the Yukon Economic Strategy.
• YCEE's involvement with the development of Sustainable Progress Indicators.
• "Yukon Business Case Studies Three Year Follow-up Report". The summary themes were discussed. YCEE encouraged government to use the report as a tool to focus policies.

Other items discussed were the creation of the new Department of Economic Development, the Department of Tourism returning to a stand alone department focusing on industry marketing, Taking Action on the Economy Committee, the return to conventional budget format with statistics, status of Immigrant Investor Fund, filming industry and the 2003 winter works program.

Council discussed YCEE's past initiatives as well as possible new directions that may be taken in support of the new governments mandate and sustainable development initiatives. Specific items that were discussed included;

• YCEE's legislated responsibilities.
• 2002 State of the Environment Report.
• Historical challenges the YCEE has faced with respect to providing constructive feedback to successive governments regarding the Yukon Economic Strategy.
• YCEE's involvement with the development of Sustainable Progress Indicators.
• "Yukon Business Case Studies Three Year Follow-up Report". The summary themes were discussed. YCEE encouraged government to use the report as a tool to focus policies.
• The delay of the Yukon Protected Areas Strategy.

Other items discussed were budget cuts, reduction of council's budget, hunting of moose into rutting season and the use of traditional knowledge in management regimes.

Yukon Status of Women's Council: YSWC is focusing on a variety of issues related to women including pay equity. YSWC received funding for a project which identifies the needs/priorities for rural women. This project may apply to YCEE. The project will be completed in July 2003.

Yukon Aboriginal Woman Association: YAWA is focusing on family violence, gambling, homelessness and diabetes issues in first nations. Association is concerned about budget funding from government.

Ralph Nordling (member at large): Main issue in the Dawson City area is the new placer mining regulations. Severe impacts are expected for industry, businesses and service sectors throughout the Yukon. Encourage new government to continue to fund KIAC (Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture).

Council of Yukon First Nations: Election of grand chief has been postponed to July. February marks the 30th anniversary of the Yukon Native Brotherhood's trip to Ottawa to present their statement of grievances regarding aboriginal rights, titles and interests respecting their traditional territories to the Prime Minister. Work continues on the four outstanding land claims. CYFN concerned with new placer mining regulations - first nations were not consulted on the dismantling of the YPA. Land use planning, the gathering and incorporation of traditional knowledge continue.

Association of Yukon Communities: Association has written to federal ministers on the placer mining issue in support of the industry.

The next YCEE meeting will be:

• Tentatively April 11/12 in Whitehorse
  Back up date is April 24/25

The chair will meet with the new premier and seek direction of the new government and discuss the role that council can play. Ideas for the next agenda will be circulated to council for consideration. Council will set the 2003/04 budget at the next meeting.

ACTION: Follow-up letters to be sent to the Ministers of Business, Tourism, & Culture; Energy, Mines & Resources and Environment seeking direction for council's work and initiatives in 2003/04.

ACTION: Look into YCEE attending the Economic Development (Cando Conference) to be held in Whitehorse in September 2003. Member Elaine Shorty will gather information & forward to secretariat.

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James Grattan, Chair